Era New Horizons: Grand Prix for Steve McQueen
The film Snow White and Russian Red (Wojna polsko-ruska) won the first prize in the New Polish Films Competition. Award for the best debut was given to Mall Girls (Galerianki) by Katarzyna Rosłaniec. Grand Prix was granted to Hunger by Steve McQueen.
Yesterday the Era New Horizons International Film Festival, one of the most important film event in Poland, has finished.
“This edition had a very rich and diverse programme,” said Bogdan Zdrojewski, Minister of Culture and National Heritage, during final gala. “It is very good because confrontations enrich. Era New Horizons as the first festival, received a guarantee of long term financing from the Ministry. This is a compliment not only towards the organisers of the festival, but also to the whole film environment in Poland that has been building the prestige of Polish cinematography since years.”
With no doubt, the event is a real cinema celebration, not only for the filmmakers and cinematographers from Poland, but also for those from abroad. Each year it establishes higher reputation, and attracts crowds of cinema-lovers by its unpretentious atmosphere.
The organisers manage to invite great masters from the whole world to Wrocław. This time the special guests at the festival were such distinguished creators as Peter Greenaway, Agnes Varda, Mike Figgis, and Guy Maddin. During 11 days of the event over 500 films from over 40 countries were presented.
The international jury with Joao Botelh as a chairman favoured Hunger – a debut feature film by respected artist of visual art, Steve McQueen. The film was also honoured with Film Critics Award.
The Audience Award was given to Oxygen by Ivan Vyrypayev, starring Karolina Gruszka.
In the New Polish Films Competition, the international jury with Martha Meszaros as a chairman, honoured Snow White and Russian Red by Xawery Żuławski. The First Prize of 100 000 PLN is divided between the director, and the producer – Jacek Samojłowicz. “I am very grateful to Agnieszka Odorowicz, General Director of the Polish Film Institute, owing to her I could co-produce Snow White and Russian Red,” said Samojłowicz. “Nobody else took on the financing of such a risky undertaking.” And Meszaros answered: “Why risky? It is just a great film!”.
Award for the best debut of PLN 40 000 was given to Mall Girls by Katarzyna Rosłaniec, produced by Włodzimierz Niderhaus. The film by this young director was also honoured with Golden Jantar, the main award at the Festival of Film Debuts in Koszalin.
A full list of winners at 9th Era New Horizons International Film Festival:
NEW HORIZONS INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION
Grand Prix: Hunger by Steve McQueen
Film Critics Award: Hunger by Steve McQueen
Audience Award: Oxygen by Ivan Vyrypayev
FILMS ON ART INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION
Best Film Prize: FlicKeR by Nik Sheehan
Special mention: Double Take by Johan Grimonprez
NEW POLISH FILMS COMPETITION
First Prize – Wrocław Film Award: Snow White and Russian Red (Wojna polsko-ruska) by Xawery Żuławski
Prize for the best debut: Mall Girls (Galerianki) by Katarzyna Rosłaniec
POLISH SHORT FILM COMPETITION
Documentary films
First Prize: The Lucky Ones (Szczęściarze) by Tomasz Wolski
Special mention: Incantatio by Tomasz Wysokiński
Feature films
First Prize: Incydent by Jan Kwieciński
Special mention: Merry Christmas (Wesołych świąt) by Tomasz Jurkiewicz
Animated films
First Prize: Puppets (Marionetki) by Michał Mróz and Marta Szymanek
Special mention: Sicilian Flea (Sycylijska pchła) by Marcin Giżycki
EUROPEAN SHORT FILM COMPETITION
Documentary film –The Last Journey of Maryse (Le dernier voyage de Maryse Lucas) by David Ledoux and Artus de Lavilleon
Feature film – Charmers (Zaríkávacky) by Gasper Snuderl
Animated film – Naiade by Nadia Micault and Lorenzo Nanni
Translated by Monika Miziniak | Edited by Patricia Koza